On the Go – April 11, 2024

Industry News – Click on the title to read the full article. Many of the sources below require a free registration to gain access to the article. If a paid registration is required, the individual source will be noted.

Airlines

Delta Revamps Boarding Process (Source: Simple Flying)
Delta Air Lines is reworking its passenger categories for boarding aircraft to a numerical system, which it hopes will prove easier to understand for infrequent travelers and non-English speakers. “While a simple change, Delta believes the move to numbered zones will simplify the boarding process for both our customers and our employees, adding clarity of sequence and improving the overall gate experience,” Delta said.

Eclipse Flights Offered Unique Experiences For Passengers (Source: Simple Flying)
US airlines flew passengers into the path of Monday’s solar eclipse, offering glasses and other extras as well as an unparalleled view. “It was so surreal seeing just the darkness outside the plane, and when we went into the bank, being able to look up and seeing, it’s like a hole in the sky,” said Paul Donlin, a Delta frequent flyer.

SAS To Switch Airline Alliance Programs (Source: Business Travel News)
SAS on Sept. 1 will join the SkyTeam airline alliance, leaving behind the Star Alliance on Aug. 31, the carrier announced Monday. Members of SAS’ EuroBonus loyalty program “will enjoy loyalty benefits similar to those offered today” with “most of SkyTeam’s airlines,” according to the carrier.

Security

The Fee For Global Entry Is Increasing – Here Is How Much It’ll Cost (Source: Travel + Leisure)
The federal government will raise the cost of the popular Global Entry program this fall for the first time in more than 15 years.  Starting Oct. 1, the application fee for Global Entry will increase to $120, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Currently the cost is $100.  “As these programs have matured and expanded, updating the fee structures is critical to the continuation and management of the programs,” CBP wrote in a statement.

Airports

NYC’S JFK Airport Named Most Luxurious Airport In US (Source: Travel + Leisure)
After engaging in a research study that analyzed 1,800 airports for the quality and selection of amenities like shops, restaurants and hotels, All Clear Travel Insurance named New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport the most luxurious in the US. JFK scored well for its large number of lounges and luxury shops.

Florida Airport Plans Flight Observation Deck (Source: WFTS-TV)
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will soon kick off a $2.2 million construction project that will give the Florida airport a flight observation deck. The area will include 27 parking spaces, a covered viewing area, a historical display and a playground.

Charleston, SC, Airport Details Expansion Plans (Source: WCBD-TV)
Charleston International Airport is planning to build an additional six-gate concourse and an overnight parking area for aircraft. The airport also has goals of a new parking deck, two-story rental car pavilion as well as revamped ticket counters and security checkpoints. The South Carolina airport is expecting $23 million in federal funding for the infrastructure project.

Hotels

Hilton Accelerates Canada Expansion Plans (Source: Travel Market Report)
Hilton is on track to expand its hotel portfolio in Canada by 50% over the next five years.  The global hospitality company announced today that it will soon surpass 200 hotels in Canada, and aims to increase its portfolio of hotels by 50% over the next several years.

Fairfield By Marriott Makes European Debut In Copenhagen (Source: Travel Market Report)
Fairfield by Marriott has launched in Europe with the opening of Fairfield by Marriott Copenhagen Nordhavn.  The brand’s first European hotel, located on the waterfront of Copenhagen’s North Harbour district, has 222 guestrooms, 20 of them boasting sea views.

Ground Transportation

Bullet Train Reportedly In The Works For Texas (Source: Newsweek)
A bullet train between Houston and Dallas could be announced this week during a visit to the US by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, reports say. The project is expected to face obstacles, but Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says, “Obviously, it has to turn into a more specific design and vision, but everything I’ve seen makes me very excited.”

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